Knicks Rumors: Five rumored candidates to replace Jeff Hornacek

The Rumor: Jeff Hornacek Won’t Finish His Contract

The New York Knicks haven’t exactly given Jeff Hornacek the fairest of shakes as head coach. He was undermined by team president Phil Jackson in 2016-17 and didn’t have a true small forward until Troy Williams signed a 10-day contract in February of the 2017-18 campaign.

As general manager Scott Perry prepares for his first full offseason with the Knicks, however, Hornacek could become a casualty of a new vision.

Team president Phil Jackson was fired with mere days remaining until the beginning of the 2018 period of free agency. That meant the Knicks went through the 2017 NBA draft and a stretch of free agency before Perry, the individual who didn’t hire Hornacek, took over.

According to Marc Stein of The New York Times, there are few around the NBA who believe that Hornacek will finish his contract with the Knicks.

"Jeff Hornacek has one year left on his contract, but good luck finding league observers who believe he will survive to see it out."

As a fifth consecutive season on the outside looking in of the NBA Playoffs comes to an end, significant changes could soon be on the horizon.

Hornacek’s job being on the line is as much about the circumstances as it is his performance—if not more so. He was hired by Jackson, which means that Perry hasn’t yet received the opportunity to handpick his candidate for the job.

If for no other reason than unfavorable circumstances, Hornacek could soon be on his way out as head coach of the Knicks.